[This is a user post.]

Former Le Sserafim member Kim Garam has been embroiled in controversy since April 2022. Aged 16, She has been publicized throughout South Korea and across the global K-Pop community for bullying allegations from her time in middle school. As of 20th July 2022, it was revealed her contract with Source Music and HYBE was terminated with no further explanation.

But an important discussion is not only how 'sexually charged' the allegations against Kim Garam are, but the response and treatment by netizens and the K-Pop community.

The K-Pop community advocate that minors should not be sexualized but remain quiet as an open season of sexual harassment, degradation, and the narrative pushed by Korean netizens, that Kim Garam is a "sex addict" has unfolded.

In April 2022, rumors circulated that Kim Garam was in these pictures at her Middle School. At the age of 12-13 years old, Kim Garam is alleged to be in this photo in front of a blackboard filled with sensitive imagery.

A post from alleged classmates did come out in her defense:

Kim Garam was also alleged to have that she made lude sexual comments toward BTS member 'V.'  However, HYBE and Source Music denied this claim.

There were alleged claims this is a picture of Garam smoking. However, HYBE and Source Music deny this, alongside an alleged classmate's testimony on Pann. K-Netizens were more outraged by the length of her skirt.

Kim Garam alleged Facebook post further fuelled the narrative that she is a "sex maniac" The photo captioned, “How was sex today?” A reply said to her, “I’ll be your f*ck buddy,” and she responded, “a-ing DM me. “ HYBE and Source Music claim this was cleverly edited with malicious intent against Kim Garam. 

Lastly, this picture is alleged to be Kim Garam in Middle School. 

Korean Netizens reacted to these various anonymous posts with:

More responses by netizens to her alleged photos:

The public perception is that Kim Garam is "hypersexual." But is this standard that young girls can't have sexual thoughts or joke about sex the same way men do without being labeled as a "hypersexual" a problem? Certainly. Netizen's focus fell to accusing and judging the validity of her being a 'bully' on the basis of clothes, alleged lewd pictures, make-up, and some hand gestures.

A screenshot of a thread on Reddit regarding the "sexually charged" nature of Kim Garam's allegations and public response:

In response to a pre-debut video of Kim Garam's hopes of being an "ending fairy." Korean netizens' response to a post followed as such: 

Korean netizens and  International K-Pop fans largely discussed the reason why she was being 'protected' by the company. Many netizens tried to link Kim Garam with Bang PD’s ideal type or alleged she had adult sexual relations with higher up HYBE employees and Bang PD.

Over the past few months, Le Sserafim was regularly referred to as "Le Ssexrafim" by K-Netz.  At the time, the group contained 15 and 16-year-old members. Full group photo reactions. 

In response to Le Sserafim's Fearless debut by K-Netz:

K-Netz reacted to another post talking about Garam on Instiz:

Chinese Netizens reacting to Kim Garam's contract termination and withdrawal from Le Sserafim:

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Alongside the sexually charged nature of some of her allegations and the sexual harassment by the netizens in response. What's interesting is a digital sex crime played a pivotal role in Kim Garam's negative reputation as a school violence perpetrator.  HYBE's statement (May 2022) alleges that Kim Garam (aged between 12-13 years old) received her school violence punishment for defending a friend, who had molka committed against them and uploaded to social media. All details confirming this are alleged to be contained in the School Violence Committee document. "Molka "is a form of sexual harassment and a digital sex crime. It means secret camera, and victims are snapped in their underwear, or up their skirts, etc. In some cases classed as revenge porn. 

Digital sex crimes, sexual harassment, and misogyny remain a worrying trend in South Korea, its schools and beyond.

At the end of the day, nothing has been proven. Not the pictures, nor the allegations yet. But what remains a common theme, is the continued harassment and dehumanisation of the former rookie idol. Kim Garam, at the age of 16, is an easy global target for misogyny and sexual harassment. Unfortunately, this trend is not likely to stop anytime soon. Kim Garam is its latest publicized target.